Latch



Patented July 3, 1945 This yinvention relates to improvements in latches forfboxes or cases and the like.

One object of the invention is to .provide a latch structurev in which the several parts are held in operative position and relationship and mutually support, each other by assembly only.

latch, hereinafter particularly described, which is extremely simple and compact in construction,

reliable and effective in operation, attractive inappeairance, susceptible of economical manufacof the partsI Another object-.of the invention is to provide a` orncase frame-Without danger of deforrnin'gthe cover during the fastening operation. And the` prongs 'with their reverse bends are preferably.

so` spaced relative-to :each other as to best fulvll boththe `function of transmitting pressure from the casing cover to the lbox and Aof :fastenture and which may be readily-appliedtoa a box i or case and the like. f .y

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch in which the same meansareemplo-yed for holding the latch bolt'both-engaged with and disengaged from the keeper fandfwhich provides i or a positive positioning of the bolt in each of its two above positions.- Objects and advantages other than set forth will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the;

accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is aafronft elevation of the ylatch of the present invention mounted on a fragment box or case;

Fig. y`Slis a front elevation of the latchywith` portions ofthe keeper and the bolt housing covers broken away to show the relationships of lthe,

several latch parts; and;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the plane of the line III-III of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals. numeral 6 designates a casing mounted on one portion of the box or case and numeral l generally designates a housing mounted on the other portion of the box or case and enclosing a latch boli; generally designated 8. The several box portions are indicated at IIJ and II and only v fragments thereof are shown.

through the prongs to the box. The assembled keeper I2, II may therefore be fastened 'on the box, as by pressing the prongs I5 into the box .of a.

v. those above:

ing the casing to the box.

YThey bolt. housing l includes a base 22 y a partial peripheral ange 23 and With'prongs I5. formed with' reverse bends I6 and struck from the base. vThe housing base 22isforrned with a circular openingflanged to form a pivot post 26 extending from the base and with a. lug 2l struck from the base adjacent the peripheral flange thereof to provide an anchor for a spring 28. The bolt housing is completedby the cover 29having a partial peripheral aange an manning with and suitably secured tothe base y*flange v23 and hav.-

ing an opening therethrough yto.accommodate the bolt .8, as will be hereinafterv described. i The latchbolt has al substantially .cylindrical hub-like portion. 33 with avvvpartial peripheral. flange 34 extending outwardly therefrom. An ex. tension 35 from the bolt flange is notched to form ahook A38 for engaging the overlapped flangesll and I8 oiV the casing 6 and-,an extension iis` made from and preferably integral withthe hubt33 to form. a handle 36. The bolt yiiange 34 Iis pro-` vided with flats 40 and Ill` which `are alternately engaged by thespring 28 in the latched or unlatched positionof the bolt.gThe spring 28 .is

Y preferably aleaf spring looped 'aboutthe anchor lugy 21 with one end 42, vof the spring bearing on:

the housing base flange 23y andthe 1other.spring end 43 bearing on the bolt ats 40 or 4l dependent on the position. of the bolt. f

When the b'olt housing and the bolt Vare to be assembled, the bolt handle 36 is passed lthrough the opening in the housing cover 29 until the bolt flange 34 lies against the-inner surface of the housing cover. The bolt hub 33 then ilts into the housing cover opening with only sufilcient Iclearance to be readily rotatable therein. The housing base ilange 23 is then interiittedy With the housing cover flange 30 which positions the pivot post 26 in the bolt hub 33. The pivot post 26 is of such shape andsize as to center the bol't hub 33 in the housing cover opening and to hold the bolt in the housing 'I in operative relation to the casing 6 which serves -as a keeper.

When the bolt hook 38 engages with. the casing anges' I3 and I8, as shown in full lines in prongs are embedded, thus preventing deformay tion of the covers eithenduring the casing and housing mounting operations or during use of the latch.' It will be understood that the pressure transmitting bends and the fastening portions of the prongs may be made separate if cle-- sired and then will each perform a single funstion only. The latch bolt is located in the proper position in the housing only by the post 2B on which the bolt pivots in the desired relation to the several other portionsof the housing 1. .Assembly of' the bolt. and the housing parts alone places the parts in the desired relationship and the parts mutually support ea'chother in op-k erative position.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various' changes andmodifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a latch, a housing including a base and an apertured cover, the base having a pivot post struck' therefrom to extend `toward the cover, and a latch bol-t having a hub-like portion with a handle extendingtherefrom and with a flange extending therefrom, the assembly of the base and the cover seating the bolt on the pivot post and holding the flange in kcontact with the cover with the handleextend'ed through the cover aperture.

2. In a latch, a 'housing mciud'ing a' flanged 'base vand a flanged cover, the base having a pivot ing therefrom, the base pivot post and the latch hub being dimensioned to bring the hub ange into contact with the housing cover upon assembly ofthe base and the cover with the base flange engaging' the cover.

3. In a latch, a housing comprising a base and a cover with interfitting flanges, the base having prongs formed thereon and reversely bent upwardly from the base toward the cover and having a pivot post formed upwardly from the base toward the cover, and a latch bolt having a hub portion seating on the pivot post and formed with a 'flangeV extending therefrom, the base flange andthe reverse bend of the prongs and the pivot post being dimensioned to bring the base flange and the bend of the prongs into contact with the cover and bring the hub flange substantially into contact'with the cover upon assembly ofthebase and the cover.

of the base and cover.' 5. In a latch, a housing including a hangedbase and a, flanged cover, the base having reversely bent prongs and a pivot post and a l-ug formed therefrom, and 'a latch bolt having a hub portion seating on the pivot post and formed gbl witha flange extending therefrom, the base flange and the' reverse bend Vof the prongs and' the lug being dimensioned to engage and support the coverand the pivot post and the bolt hub being dimensioned to bring the bolt flange substantially l intocontact Withthe cover upon assembly of the base and the cover.

6. In a latch, a housing including a base and cover Withint'eritting flanges, the base having reversely bent prongs and apivot post and a z lug formed therefrom, and a 'latch bolt having a hub portion seating on thev pivot post and formed with a flange extending therefrom, the prongs being formed in spaced relation to the flange and the lug being formed intermediate the prongs, the base flange and the bend of theprongs and the lug being dimension'ec'f'to` engage and support the cover and the pivot post and the bolt hub being dimensioned to bring the bolt flange substantially into contact with the cover upon assembly of the base and the cover.

BEETHOLD R. THIELE. 

